Washboard-holder.



M. C. FRANK.

WA-SHBOARD HOLDER,

,APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1916.

1,281,948, Patented Dec. 17, 1918. .--\'\""4V\ 5 MAXWELL C. FRANK, 0FPIEDMONT, CALIFORNIA.

wAsHBoARn-HoLnER. I

Y '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAXWELL C. FRANK, a citizen of the State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWashboard-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to that class of articles, having suctionmeans for retaining objects in position and in particular, to a vacuumappliance for holding the washboard in position, in the wash-tub at. anydesired angle which is most convenient and suitable to the user Whilewashing.

The primary objects of my invention are, first, to provide a holder forthe board for removing the constant annoyance caused by the wash-boardin moving toward, then from the washer while washing, according to thedrawing-upward movement of the clothes over the face of the wash-board,or the downward rubbing movement thereon. Second, the present normalposition of the washboard is where the legs of the board rest in theangle of the tub, formed by its bottom and side; this position is notthe most etlicient one for all the persons having access to the givenwashing unit, such as in a boarding-house, therefore, my second objectprovides, that when the vacuum appliance is combined with the legs ofthe waslnboard, the whole can be adapted to be removably secured in anyposition in the tub with respect to the user, such that the angle oftheboard can be set in the most suitable position for efficient washing andalso allow the desired clearance space between the top of the board andthe washer. Third, to provide the holder with means such, that althoughthe board will be held firmly to the bottom of the tub, it will also beheld pivotal so that the user can raise and lower the board for thecustomary inspection of the tub as at present. Fourth, to provide asimple, inexpensive wash-board holder, that will be durable in use,efficient in operation and one that the average housekeeper can easilysecure to the wash-board and operate.

lVith these and other objects in view my invention consists of asubstantially integral structure, comprising a vacuum cup of rubber orequivalent material, surmounted by a pliable stud. or suitableconnecting means and adapted 'to be secured to the leg of a wash-boardand is hereinafter described in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 9, 1916. Serial No. 124,550.

United States, residing at Piedmont, in the county of Alameda andPatented Dee-17, 1918.

combination with a wash-board, as an ideal application of my inventionto the class of articles to which it relates. A couple of embodiments ofmy device are shown in the forms in the accompanying sheet of drawings,in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wash-tub in section and showsthe leg of a wash-board equipped with one of my holders. The full linesrepresent the board in the chosen position for washing and the dottedlines represent the board raised.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the holder secured to the leg of awash-board and ready to be depressed and Fig. 3 is a plan of it showingthe leg in section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the holder showing the cup depressedand the board resting in the inclined washing position; the dotted linesrepresent the board raised.

Fig. 5 shows the waslrboard holder rotated from its normal positionv onthe board,

thus disengaging the vacuum cup from service.

Fig. 6 1s a sectional elevation of another embodnnent of my invention,in which the attachment is secured to the end of a leg of a wash-boardand is ready to be depressed and Fig. 7 is a plan of it with the boardremoved.

' Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures, in which 1 in Fig. l, is my holder secured to one of the legsof the ordinary wash-board 2 at its base. The combination is removablyattached to the bottom of the partially filled wash-tub 3, by means ofthe suction cup which is depressed, and the .dotted lines represent thewash-board raised showing that the flexible neck has yielded toaccommodate the lifting of the board for the customary inspecting or theputting in of more Wash and the adjusting and distribution of same. InFig. 2 the holder consists of the suction having a concavity 7 on itsbearing side and a thin circumferential edge 8, also having at itscircumference preferably on the side opposite the wash-board leg aprojection 9, for breaking or releasing the suction hold.

6 and may 5 as shown cup 5 made preferably of rubber,

allow the rotation from the seat 12.

leg is so disposed that t H i,

in this figure and also in Fig. 3, to increase shown and spaced betweenthe seat and thetop of the stud is a hole 13, having engaged therein ascrew 4:, or other means securing the device to the board. Thecombination is ready to be depressed by downward pressure on the boardor by direct pressure applied to the vacuum cup 5. The seat is sopositioned that the line of intersection of its faces falls back of theaxis of the stud and at right angles thereto as the holder is positionedfor use. The face of the seat which contacts with the sides of thewash-board when the holder is in use a line projecting from this facewould fall substantially within the material forming the holder. Thisconstruction eliminates the tendency of the stud to bend under thestrain of use, as the stress due to use of: the wash-board is taken upby compression of the material rather than by bending.

, The cup 5' in Fig. 4. is shown depressed, thereby reducing the cavityor vacuum space"- 7 to a. minimum and the device is thus held firmly tothe bottom of the tub 3, by virtue of the excess pressure on itsexterior horizontally projected surface due to the atmospheric pressureand the weight of water on it when in service. The board may be inclinedto the desired slope as shown by the yielding oi the flexible neck 6acting as a hinge, and the foot of the board is shown having one edgecontacting the tub 3. The board positioned thus is very stable and theto and fro movement of the wash-board by the respective washing strokesis eliminated by the firm hold of the suction cup. To remove the boardfrom the tub the cup must be released; this is acomplishedby simplyraising the release lip or projection 9 until the'vacuum breaks. Thedotted lines show the position of the stud 10 and board 2 when thelatter is raised similar to that shown in Fig. 1. d

h it is desired to do a little wash without the use or the holder, thelatter may be turned about the pin or screw l, as shown in' Fig. 5, thusdisengaging the cup and al lowing the leg of the board to rest on thebottom of the tub 3. The yieldability oi": the rubber or stud materialis sufficient to may also be turned embodiment of Fig. 6

in Fig. 6 the to be brought out ot service.

boards, comprising a vacuum cup,

The

neck 6 and stud 10 may be constructed concentric with the vacuum cup 5and the device is secured to the bottom of the washboard leg 2 by meanssuch as a screw l, instead of to the top side of the board as shown inFig. l, the head of the screw occupying the recess 1% on the stud 10thereby sinking the head below the stud surface, so that the possiblecatching of any wash on it is removed. The seat 12 on the stud servesthe purpose as a guide to secure the device to the board also to act asa rest for the board while in service, form of Fig. 2.

My invention is' serviceable on Wooden, cement, metal, corrugated andother washtubs and the embodiments shown and described performequivalent functions, though they vary in structure, but it is to beunderstood that my invention covers all other variations in structure,which come within the spirit of the invention and which are within thescope or" the claims;

W hat T claim and desire to ters Patent of the United States, is thefollowing, to wit:-

1. A holding device for the legs of washa stud formed integrally on saidcup, and a seat formed on the outer end of said stud having disposedfaces -for the reception of said leg; the line of intersection of saidfaces bein at right angles to the axis of said stud 101' the alinementofsaid washboard on said device. I

2. A holding device comprising a vacuum cup having a body which tapersto its peripheral edge, a releasing lip formed integrally with said edgeand forming a continuation thereof and an outstanding stud on the backof said cup, providedwith a seat adapted for engagement with the leg ofa wash-board.

3. A holding device for the leg or" a washboa-rd, comprising a vacuumcup of rubber, an integral outstanding stud mounted eccentrically on theback of said cup and provided with a seat formed at its outer end forpositioning said leg and adapted to be secured thereto.

a. A holding device for the legsoi washboards comprising a vacuum cup, astud termed integrally on said cup,'a seat formed on the outer end or"said stud having angularly disposed faces, the line of intersection ofsaid faces being ed the axis of said stud toward the direction fromwhich the stress is impressed on the stud by said wash-board legs.

a pair of angularly MAX F-JELL C. FRANK.

lVitness-es Lanna FRANK, CHARLES A. REED.

similar to the secure by Let-

